Mr. Bush and the G.I. Bill

[cal04]

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/26/opinion/26mon1.html?ref=opinion

President Bush opposes a new G.I. Bill of Rights. He worries that if the traditional path to college for service members since World War II is improved and expanded for the post-9/11 generation, too many people will take it.

He is wrong, but at least he is consistent. Having saddled the military with a botched, unwinnable war, having squandered soldiers’ lives and failed them in so many ways, the commander in chief now resists giving the troops a chance at better futures out of uniform. He does this on the ground that the bill is too generous and may discourage re-enlistment, further weakening the military he has done so much to break.

So lavish with other people’s sacrifices, so reckless in pouring the national treasure into the sandy pit of Iraq, Mr. Bush remains as cheap as ever when it comes to helping people at home.

Thankfully, the new G.I. Bill has strong bipartisan support in Congress. The House passed it by a veto-proof margin this month, and last week the Senate followed suit, approving it as part of a military financing bill for Iraq and Afghanistan.


WH response to this editorial
http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnw/20080526/pl_usnw/statement_by_white_house_press_secretary

[Vincardog]

1. when jr vetoes the bill can we override his veto but amend it to kill his illegal occupation funds?

[lib2DaBone]

2. Good Question

I wonder the same thing? Our Media and newspapers no longer report the news, they just mouth White House Press Releases. Long gone are the days when "reporters" did background research or follow-up questions. But I digress. I too wonder why the Democrats do not simply cut off funds? Why do they allow themselves to be bullied and boxed into this cage by the likes of Fox News? Case in point. Today is Memorial Day. Blue Dog Democrats and some Republicans are at Chicken- Bar- B- Q's across the country, saying how much they "Support the Troops". But just last week they voted against educational benefits for G.I.'s returning from Iraq. I feel the American people should know these facts, but they will never hear the truth on FOX, CNN, ABC or NBC.
H.R. 2642 Only 7 of the sleaziest and most Bush-oriented Democrats voted against vets today:

Melissa Bean (IL)
Dan Boren (OK)
Joe Donnelly (IN)
Brad Ellsworth (IN)
Nick Lampson (TX)
Tim Mahoney (FL)
Jim Matheson (UT)